A Little Bit Of Coffee?

By Vickie Munton on May 19, 2015 • ( 2 Comments )

Better grab a cup ‘o brew and sit for a few.

Here’s the thing.

I am struggling.

Since returning from Madagascar, I have wrestled with this idea of blogging.

It may not seem like a big deal to anyone but me, but I choose to do this, for me. If I don’t write, I miss it. When I am compelled to write, I feel free.

Free to express myself in a way that I could not otherwise.

Creating things does that for me as well. A sense of accomplishment. Satisfaction.

So, here I am explaining myself. One week I am writing about Madagascar and the next I am talking Pinterest.

Is there an oxymoron here?

Maybe. And the struggle is real. I never want my words to sound glib. When these two worlds collide after you return from a third world country–or read about the plight of the women and children being captured and tortured by Isis…

How do you reconcile this life–a life of relative ease–with those who were born into such poverty or forced into such degradation?

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

The hope for this world is not in politics or reform. It’s not in a peace treaty or a humanitarian mission. It is in a PERSON. Ultimately, the evil in this world is only conquered with the message of the gospel:

Jesus died, offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sin.
Forgiveness is full and free for those who confess their sin and commit to Him as Lord.
Eternity is real: He promises a home beyond this life where there will be no more sorrow, sadness, death or pain.

How then, do I get back to “normal”?

I lay it down. Let it go. Give it back to Jesus. Do what He asks me to do, and TRUST HIM with the rest.

“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

John 14:1-3

I don’t believe He wants us to walk defeated, feeling frustrated over things that we may or may not have control over. When our hearts are tender and we are burdened for the least of these, we are called to battle… on our knees. It is there that He reveals Himself and what He wants us to do.

So here I am, in the midst of my struggle, and I see this phrase on a Pinterest board. It was a gentle reminder that HE is still in control– and It gave me a great idea for a birthday gift for the special young woman in my son’s life:

I must give credit to the Pinterest post that inspired me, so here’s a link to that post:

The first time I saw it, I thought she would love it– and saved it, not knowing until much later that she had pinned this one to her board:

We celebrated her birthday last week, and it turned out to be the perfect bag to hold her gift!

It’s a simple project:

—canvas bag (from Hobby Lobby, $2.99)

—transfer sheets (available craft stores, Walmart, Target)

—printer

—iron

I used Rhonna Designs to create the image I wanted, then Photoshop to flip the image for the iron-on, printed it on 8 1/2 x 11″ paper, and ironed it on the bag.

So simple, and SO CUTE, and inexpensive–not much more than a paper gift bag!

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So here I am, two weeks after traveling to Madagascar, trying to get back to “normal”, celebrating birthdays and planning for summer. Life goes on, doesn’t it? We can’t let the evil of this world stop us in our tracks or defeat us by immobilizing us. We must press on, living the life that God has called us to.

Thankful. Grateful. Prayerful.

We are made aware more than ever before in history of the evil in this world–that it has been and always will be. The good news is that HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD!

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”